At last the Ryder Cup is here – well, in Rome – and with it Europe’s biennial chance to stick it to the Americans in a sport that matters in a format that we can all relate to. Even if you regard golfers as extremely well-off people largely determined to make themselves better off, the frenzied emotions and belting patriotism of the Ryder Cup should be enough to challenge even the most surly of gloomsters. And while Americans have to seek solace and comfort in the company of other Americans, it takes something special and inspiring when an Irishman can join forces with a Swede and be cheered on by an Austrian and a Dane.

Our American chums haven’t won away from home this century, which gives them a huge incentive. After all, they thrashed Europe last time out, by a record 19-9 at Whistling Straits. They are favourites here, and on paper they look unbeatable. But… There is huge excitement around captain Luke Donald’s pick of the brilliant 23-year-old Swede Ludvig Aberg, who has been a pro for only a little over three months. He has never played in a Major, but won the European Masters earlier this month with a phenomenal finish. An exceptional driver, he is also blessed with a stable temperament.

It should be a phenomenal match with Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick leading the way for Europe, while Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay head up the US attack. If it comes down to the single, then I expect a US win, but if Europe can get a big enough lead in the Friday foursomes and four-balls, who knows.

At least it won’t be a mismatch, unlike some of the games in this year’s otherwise stupendous Rugby World Cup. So far Namibia have shipped 96 points to France and 71 to the All Blacks. The Springboks have put 76 points past Romania, and Ireland 82 points past the same opponents. England smashed the poor Chileans, mostly engineers who had to travel up to five hours to training, by 71 points. The commentators are conspicuously uncritical of these mismatches. Surely they have a duty to tell a few home truths. I can’t imagine potential young recruits to the game in Romania, Chile and Namibia are hurrying home to watch their team being bullied and beaten, and thinking: ‘I want a piece of that.’

At the other end of the scale, the epic, titanic encounter between Ireland and South Africa was one of the greatest rugby matches ever played: a ground-shuddering, bruising battle with 18-stone behemoths hurling themselves at each other. But here’s the thing: there wasn’t a single yellow card in the whole match. Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe handled the game superbly, always keeping the play moving. Crucially, all the players had been brilliantly coached; they tackled hard but fairly and always low. It proved that you can enjoy the toughest game of rugby without trying to smash your opponent’s head in. You hope the lessons will be learned as the tournament heads towards its climax.

For most sensible people, Chelsea is an irritating football club based in west London, which not even many Chelsea fans are especially fond of. But at the moment it’s a model of how not to do things. In what kind of business do you change everything all at once and expect not to suffer? And is manager Mauricio Pochettino anything more than a feel-good hunch? He’s never really won anything and currently looks as exposed as his predecessor, Graham Potter. It’s not getting any easier either: after a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, Chelsea have had a soft start to the season, playing Forest, Luton, Bournemouth, West Ham and Villa. Coming up though are Newcastle, Man City, Man United, Spurs and Arsenal. Not sure that will end well.